Obiettions takenfrom tef imonies ofScriptttre,anfinera 7C7 ded in his confcience by fcandals and offences, offered by thofe who are more firorig, yet he can neuer fall and perifh, feeing the Lord ílrengtheneth his weakneffe,vpholdeth him being readie to fall, andbeing fallen raifeth himvp againe. Notwithilanding it might trulybe faid in refpe6 ofthe fuf- ficiencie ofthe occafion offered by the offence giuen that he fhould thereby be deilroyedand perifh: for hee that giueth fuchoffences,doth as much asin him lieth,deflroy his weake brother, the caufe which he giueth being in it fclfe offorce fuffricient to ouerthrow and defiroy him, ifhewere not fup- portedand preferuedby the omnipotent power ofGod. Sc that the fenfe ofthis place is this, deflroy not, that is,do not by gluing fuch offences asmuch as in thee lieth, defiroy thy weake brother,forwhomChrifl bathdied. And fo,through thy knowledge fhall thyweakebrother perifh, that is, by a- búfing thyknowledge concerning the vfe of things indiffe- rent,thou fhalt by offending himas much as thou art able caufehim tope,rifh,becaufe thou offerefl the occafion, and vfeíl the meane tobringhim todeflru&ion. The twelfth lace obieaed is i. Cot%9.27. Tut Ibeate Sea. dovne my bodeand brine it intofubteEtion, left byany meaneraf- Y.Cor.4. ter Ihawpreached to others, [my felflhouldbecome a reprobate. Vvhetber From whichplace they thus reafon : `Paul might become a Paul might be. rebrobate: butTau/ was elected and indued with faith; and come a reìro- therefore force eleéled and indued with faith may become reprobates. The propofition they endeuour to prooue by this place ; becaufe in chaflifing hisbody to this end that he might not becomea reprobate, hefheweth himfelfedoubt- full and fearefull left he fhould become one. I anfwere,firft, that the original word aid6x+F.ca. here vfed,which they tranflate reprobate, may more fitly in this place be tranflated reproo- ucd, as it is inour Englifh tranflation ; for fo it is fometimes vfed, as 2.Cor.i 3.7. andHeb.6.8, and in this tente it is op- 2 Cori 3.= pofed vnto one who is approoued; and fo it befl agreeth Heb,6s. with the fcope ofthe Avoflle in thisplace ; for hedoth not fpeake ofthe reprobationofhis perfon inGods counfell,but ofthe difaproouing and reie&lion of his miniflery by God andhis Church, ifhe did teach one thing and praccife ano- zz 2 ther.
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